2026-08-19 Wed

Jam Sri Vibhaji II Ranmalji was born on 8 May 1827 and became the ruler of Nawanagar in 1852, succeeding Jam Ranmalji. He ruled for more than four decades, until his death on 28 April 1895.

Vibhaji's reign was an important period in the development of Nawanagar. He is associated with administrative, judicial and educational reforms, including the development of a more structured judicial system, improvements to the police administration and the promotion of English education. His reign also witnessed considerable development in Jamnagar's civic infrastructure. The municipal history of Jamnagar attributes the construction of several important buildings and public works to this period, including Nawanagar High School, Vibhaji School, Mandvi Tower, Pancheswar Tower, roads, gardens and improvements connected with Bedi Port.

Vibhaji was also an important figure in the later history of the Nawanagar dynasty. He adopted Ranjitsinhji, who eventually succeeded to the throne and became one of the most celebrated rulers of Nawanagar. Ranjitsinhji would later gain international fame as a pioneering Indian cricketer and lend his name to India's premier domestic cricket championship, the Ranji Trophy.

For more information about Nawanagar princely state, reads Nawanagar Silver 5 Kori of Jam Shri Vibhaji II

Earlier Nawanagar coins had frequently imitated the coinage of the Gujarat Sultanate and used the so-called frozen AH 978 date, corresponding to 1570 CE, long after the original date had ceased to be current. Under the later nineteenth-century issues, however, the ruler's name and Vikram Samvat dates became much more prominent.

During Vibhaji’s reign, the state issued gold, silver and copper coins in denominations including kori, dokdo and trambiyo. His coins commonly carry his name in Nagari, while some issues continued the older convention of incorporating the name of Muzaffar Shah III of Gujarat in Persian script. Vikram Samvat dates also appear on several issues, providing a useful chronological element for collectors and researchers. This mixture of older and newer conventions is characteristic of Nawanagar's coinage.

This particular coin in the image is a Copper 3 Dokdo of Jam Sri Vibhaji, dated Vikram Samvat 1928, corresponding to 1871 CE. The coin weighs 18.51 grams and a diameter of about 32 mm. The obverse features a prominent katar (dagger) at the centre, surrounded by Nagari inscriptions. The legend identifies the ruler as “Jamashri Vibhaji Maharaja Dhiraj”, reflecting his royal status. The katar is an especially recognizable feature of Nawanagar's coinage and links this nineteenth-century issue with the state's long-established numismatic design traditions. The reverse carries the denomination and the state's name along with the VS 1928 date. The denomination is 3 Dokda.